Evaluation of angiogenesis with serum and tissue vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 levels in relation to clinicopathological features in lung cancer patients

Abstract

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to investigate serum and tissue levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and to evaluate correlations between serum and tissue parameters with respect to clinicopathological features in patients with lung cancer. Methods The study was conducted on 34 patients with stage I-IV primary lung cancer and 32 healthy controls. Preoperative serum, tumor and matched normal tissue VEGF, Ang-1 and Ang-2 levels were determined with ELISA. Results Serum Ang-2 levels were significantly increased in lung cancer patients (p<0.001). VEGF levels were significantly higher in tumor tissue than in matched normal tissue (p<0.001). Ang-1 and Ang-2 levels were significantly higher in normal tissue than in tumor tissue (p<0.001). A significant negative correlation was found between normal lung tissue Ang-2 and serum VEGF levels (r=−0.400, p=0.019). A significant correlation was observed between serum and lung tissue Ang-2 levels (r=0.397, p=0.020). Conclusion This study clearly demonstrated that VEGF, Ang-1 and Ang-2 are all involved in lung cancer process. This was the first study to show a correlation between serum and tissue levels of Ang-2 in lung cancer. This finding might be the basis for therapeutic strategies against lung cancer.